Rotary engine.



PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

/ L.'A. COOPER. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES Patented March 21, 1905.

PATENT ()FFICE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,408, dated March'21, 1905.

Application filed September 14, 1904. Serial No. 224,476.

To all 7071/0171 it may concern:

Be it known that I, LESLIE A. COOPER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in R- tary Engines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to steam-engines, and more especially to thatclass thereof which are generally known as the rotary concentric pistonand rotary abutment type; and it has for one of its objects theprovision of a multiple-expansion engine in which the steam is expandedin opposite directions from the high pressure chamber or cylinder.

My invention has, furthermore, for its object the provision of such anengine comprising a plurality of rotary piston-wings which aresuccessively subjected to the action of the steam in a series ofexpansion-chambers, the organization being essentially such as to avoidthe necessity of close frictional fits between said wings and the innersurfaces of the respective cylinders.

My invention has, furthermore, for its object the provision of a valvewhereby the steam is successively conducted to the expansionchambersdisposed at opposite sides of the high pressure chamber, andconsequently tending to balance the pistons and valve longitudinally oftheir axes, inasmuch as the pressure is thus gradually reduced inopposite directions until the steam is finally exhausted from the lastof the expansion-cylinders and at the extreme ends of the valve.

Further objects of my invention will be attained by the particularconstruction of the valve and other parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, in which similar characters denote similar parts,Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a steam-engine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs.3, 4c, and show vertical transverse sections on lines 3 3, L 4, and 5 5,respectively, as indicated in Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a perspective viewof the valve.

Briefly stated, my improved engine comprises a centrally-disposedhigh-pressure cylinder or chamber from which the steam may be conductedat first to a pair of first-expansion cylinders disposed at oppositesides of the high-pressure chamber, and the steam may then be conductedto a pair of second-expansion cylinders adjacent the first-compressioncylinders, respectively, and so on to any number of further-expansioncylinders within the scope of operative efiiciency.

From the foregoing it should be understood that my improved engine maybe built so as to comprise one high-pressure chamber con nected withone, two, or more pairs of expansion-cylinders in successive orderendwise oppositely therebeyond.

I In the drawings, 10 denotes the engine-casing, comprising acylindrical space extending from end to end thereof and constituting achamber which may be divided into a series of cylindrical chambers toform a centrallydisposed high-pressure cylinder 11, a pair offirst-expansion cylinders 12, and a pair of second-expansion cylinders13, each expansionchamber preferably being larger in area than thepreceding one, and consequently reducing the steam-pressureproportionately.

Mounted for rotation in the cylindrical space above mentioned is apreferably unitary member comprising a series of disks, thecentrally-disposed pair of which, 1 1, serve to limit the high-pressurechamber 11 and serve as end walls for the same, while at the same timesaid disks, in conjunction with disks 15, form the first-expansionchambers 12. The disks 15 in turn cooperate with end disks 16 to formthe second-expansion chambers 13, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The entiredevice as a unit is journaled with its trunnions or shaft 17 in bearings19 20, respectively, provided on the heads 21 22 of the casing and shownin screw-threaded engagement therewith. Each adjacent pair of disks isconnected by a central body portion and by one or more piston-wings, sothat in the construction shown the disks 14: are spaced by the bodyportion 23 and are united by a piston-wing 24. In a like manner each ofthe disks 14 is spaced from its companion disk 15 by a body portion 25and united therewith by a pair of pistonwings 26 27, the center line ofwhich is prefa easing into five chambers, and it should of course beunderstood that this number is not by any means limited and also thatthe same may be less, if so desiredas', for instance, the engine maycomprise one high-pressure and one pair of expansion chambers, makingthree in all.

Cooperative with the piston-wings are a series of abutments mounted forrotation on a shaft 35, disposed above the piston member and journaledin bearings 36. held in the engine-casing. The shaft has a centralabutment 37, moving in conjunction with the piston-wing 24, and a pairof abutments 38, (only one being shown,) cooperating with the wings 2627, while abutments 39 are adapted to cooperate with the wings 31 32 ofthe secondcompression cylinders. These abutments rotate betweenstationary partitions 10 411 12 in contact with the disks 14, 15, and16, respectively. The shafts 17 and 35 are geared to move in unison bygears 13 14:, secured thereto, respectively, and the abutments arerotated in a cylindrical chamber 45, provided therefor in theengine-casing.

Disposed above-the rotary abutment member is a valve V, provided with aseries of passages for conductingthe steam from one chamber into thenext expansion-chamber, as follows: Steam is admitted through a pipe 50,passes the cut-away portion 51 of the valve V, and traverses through thechannel 52 into thehigh-pressure chamber 11 and then around the bodyportion 23, through channel 53 and valve-ducts 5 1, into thefirst-expansion chambers 12 12. (See Fig. 1.) Here it meets the abutment38, contacting with the body 25 and also the piston-wing 27, thereforerotating the shaft 17 in the direction indicated by the arrow a.

the axis of the shaft 17 they will finally uncover the channel 56 to thesteam whereby it has thus far been actuated, and the firstexpansionsteam may then pass through valve-ducts 57 into channels 58 and thesecond-expansion chambers 13, where it follows The rotation results inmoving the high-pressure piston 24: in a similar direction the piston 31until the mouth of channel 58 has been passed by the wings 32 and thesecond expansion takes place, finally resulting in discharging thesecond expansion steam through channels 59 and cut-away pockets 60 ofthe valve V into the exhaust-pipes 61. (See Fig. 5.) The valve V isnormallystationary, but may be partially rotated by a handle H toreverse the admission of steam, and consequently reverse the rotation ofthe engine.

In view of the fact that the several cylinders or chambers areconsecutively brought into action it is obvious that the moving partsmay be quite free from frictional fit, since any leak of steam Will onlyhave the effect of increasing the steam-pressure in the next succeedingchamber.

The chambers 12 12, designated first-expansion chambers, are secondaryto the highpressure chamber 11, in which under a certain organization ofthe engine the steam might be expansively employed, as by having a valveoperating to cut off the steam admission within the period of thepiston-wing cycle, and the terms first expansion and second expansionare somewhat arbitrarily employed herein.

This engine is one economically and highly 1 efliciently using thesteam, and this compound engine, moreover, is seen to be of a simple,compact, and cheaply-built construction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination with anengine-casing comprising a cylindrical high-pressure chamber and aplurality of cylindrical expansionchambers disposed at opposite sides ofthe highpressure chamber, of a shaft carrying radial pistons in therespective cylindrical chambers, and a valve for connecting thehigh-pressure chamber with the first-expansion-chambers and forconnecting one pair of expansion-chambers, with the next pair ofexpansion-chambers.

2. The combination with an engine-casing, having a cylindrical openingtherein, of a piston member, disks carried thereon and rotatabletherewith, closely edgewise fitting the said cylindrical opening in theengine-casing, and dividing said casing into a high-pressu re chamberand aplurality of expansion-chambers disposed at opposite sides of thehigh-pressure chamber,and ways for the admission of steam into thehigh-pressure chamber, and therefrom. to the oppositelylocatedexpansionchambers.

3. The combination with an engine-casing having a cylindrical openingtherein, of a piston-shaft separated disks carried thereon and fordividing said easing into an intermediate high-pressure chamber and aplurality of expansion-chambers disposed at opposite sides of thehigh-pressure chamber, and piston wings uniting each pair of adjacentdisks.

1. The combination with an engine-casing,

of a rotary piston-shaft having separated disks for dividing said easinginto an intermediate high-pressure chamber and a plurality ofexpansion-chambers at opposite sides thereof, and having radial pistons,rotary abutments cooperative with said pistons, and a valve having ductsfor connecting the high-pressure chamber with the next, andoppositely-located expansionchambers.

5. The combination with an engine-casing comprising a highpressurechamber and pairs of expansion-chambers,one of each pair being disposedat opposite sides of the highpressure chamber, of a valve having waysfor connecting the high-pressure chamber with a pair ofoppositely-located expansion-chambers and for connecting such pair ofexpansion-chambers with the next pair of expansion-chambers.

6. A steam-engine having in its casing: cylindrical rotary-piston space,an adjacent rotary-abutment space, and a cylindrical valvespacc, asteam-inletleading to the valve-space at an intermediate part of thecasing, transversely oppositely arranged steam-passages, at theintermediate part of the casing extending from the valve-space to thecylindrical rotary-piston space, further transversely opposite passages,opposite and endwise beyond said first-named passages, and connectingthe valve-spaceandtherotary-pistonspace,incombination with theengine-shaft carrying the separated partition-forming disks and theradial piston-wings, the shaft carrying the rotary abutments connectedto run with the piston-shaft, the stationary partitions in therotary-abutment space in the planes of the partition-disks, the rotaryvalve fitted in the valve-space having an intermediate transversesteamway 51, and having the opposite pair of steamways 54, leading froman adjoined port opposite the way 51 through the valve, terminatingoppositely endwise beyond the said way, and enabling transfer of steamfrom the intermediate partitioned cylinder-space to the secondaryexpansion cylinderspaces, and means for exhausting the steam from saidsecondary spaces.

7. In a steam-engine of the rotary concentric piston type, an enginebody orcasing having longitudinally-ranging and adjoined rotary-pistonand rotary-abutment receiving openings, a piston-shaft having aseparated pair of high-pressure-chamber-inclosing partitions, and one ormore pairs of secondaryexpansion chamber inclosing partitions arrangedoppositely beyond the high-pressure chamber and toward each end of thecasing, and having the radial pistons in the respectivecylinder-chambers, the rotary abutments arranged in the transverseplanes of such cyl inder-chambers and cooperating with the pistonstherein, and partitions between the rotary abutments in the planes ofthe chamberinclosing partitions, the engine-casing furarranged, and bothat the same side of the engine, which lead into the secondary expansioncylinder-chambers and exhaust-ways from the latter chambers.

8. In a steam-engine of the rotary concentric piston type, anengine-body having longitudinally-ranging and adjoined rotary-piston androtary-abutment receiving openings, a piston-shaft having a separatedpair of highpressurechamberinclosing partitions 14, pairs 15 15, ofseparated secondary-expansionchamber inclosing partitions arranged asshown, and having the radial pistons 24 and 26 26, in the respectivecylinder-chambers, the rotary abutments 37 and 38 38, and partitions 40and 41 41, between the rotary abutments, the engine-casing furthermorehaving the intermediate pairs 52, 53 and 55 56, 55 56, of transverselyopposite steam-passages, in the planes of the respective cylindricalsteam-chambers, and oppositely connecting thereinto, also having asteam-inlet 51, connecting with one steam-passage 52, steamways 54 54connecting the steam-passage 53 with the steam-inlet passages 55 55 andexhaust-ways 57 57 in connection with the steampassages 56 towardopposite ends of the engine.

9. In a steam-engine, in combination, the casing having an intermediatehigh-pressure cylindrical chamber, and one or more pairs of separatedsecondary expansion-chambers at either side and in axial alinementtherewith, the pistonshaft havingthe radial pistonwings the rotaryabutments cooperating with the piston-wings, and the casing having asteam-inlet passage, and passages at opposite sides of the casingconnecting into the respective high and paired, secondary chambers, andendwise located exhaust-passages, a valve having ducts for the passageof steam from the inlet to the high-pressure chamber, from such chamberinto the chambers secondary thereto and out from the last pair ofchambers to the exhaust-passages, said valve being movably mounted andeffective to reverse the steam-inlet into the high-pressure andsecondary cylindrical chambers to securing an opposite driving of thepistons and engineshaft.

10. In a steam-engine of the character described the engine-body havingan intermediate inlet-passage and steam-exhaust passages toward theopposite ends of the body, and

valve chamber intersecting the steam-inlet and steam-exhaust and thetransversely opposite cylinder-connecting steam-passages, having atransverse steamway 51, and having obliquely-arranged steamways in pairsand terminating at either side endWise beyond the Way 51, and havingWays, as 60 for connecting the endWise-located secondary cylindricalchambers With the steam-exhaust passages.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

LESLIE A. COOPER. WVitnesses:

WM. S. BELLOWS, GERTRUDE R. DRISCOLL.

